A TorahTutors student was going on an extended family vacation and in lieu of a session, her parents requested material she could learn independently while away, to review with her tutor upon their return. (Note: This one is a throwback tidbit, pre-pandemic and travel concerns.) They were learning Parshat Re’eh at the time, and the…
Director Sarah Rudolph was interviewed by the Cleveland Jewish News and shared how TorahTutors has been able to meet learners’ ever-changing needs during the Covid-19 pandemic. https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/news/local_news/torahtutors-org-takes-on-more-important-role-today/article_12bc6c60-fc30-11ea-8b8b-23169f124156.html
What is the proper frame of mind with which to approach the Days of Awe, from Rosh Hashana through Yom Kippur? Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are both holidays that fit the Talmudic criteria to recite Hallel (Arakhin 10b); however, the joyous prayer is deemed inappropriate for the time of judgement. Rabbi Abahu relates, “The…
It’s the last Tuesday in the Jewish month of Elul; time for a TorahTutors Teruah* Tidbit! (*teruah = shofar sound that starts with a “t”) A young student and her tutor began reviewing laws and customs of Rosh Hashanah by discussing the symbolic foods they each eat on Rosh Hashana, such as apple and honey…
Recently, a new adult student joined TorahTutors with the goal of exploring the weekly parsha in more depth. He prefaced his first learning session last week by sending his new tutor two questions he was struggling with after reading that week’s parsha (Ki Tavo) on his own. His questions, paraphrased, were: (Deut. 26:10) “A land…
A young TorahTutors student was interested in connecting more deeply with Jewish prayer, and asked her tutor if they could explore the meaning of Shema. After clearing the topic with the girl’s parents, the tutor guided her to read through each of the three Torah passages recited as part of Kriyat Shema and to find…